Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Running Back #23
Chris Rodriguez Jr. News
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Expected to be Ready for Week 1, Jaguars Easing him in
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (foot) suffered a foot injury on the first day of the offseason program in the spring, keeping him out for all of organized team activities and minicamp after he required surgery. Rodriguez was cleared for the start of training camp, but he only took part in individual drills on Wednesday and was held out of team work. Sports Illustrated's John Shipley writes that the Jaguars are taking things "nice and slow" with their big offseason addition to the backfield. The plan is for the Jaguars to ease C-Rod back in and have him ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cleveland Browns. His absence has allowed Bhayshul Tuten to get all the work with the first-team offense, and he's looked great. Still, the Jags plan is for Rodriguez to be a key piece of their ground game in 2026, and it helps his cause that he has history with head coach Liam Coen from his days at Kentucky in college. He's coming off a strong season in Washington -- 112 rushes for career highs in rushing yards (500) and rushing touchdowns (six) in 13 games -- but he's never been a true lead back in the NFL, and that won't happen in Jacksonville, either. Tuten has a leg up to lead the backfield in touches, with C-Rod competing for a change-of-pace role with third-down pass-catcher LeQuint Allen Jr. Rodriguez should be considered more of an RB3/flex going into his first year in Duval.
Jul 30, 2026 9:21 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Back at Training Camp Practice
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (foot) has returned to practice at training camp after suffering an offseason foot injury that required surgery, according to Jaguars senior reporter J.P. Shadrick. It's good news for Rodriguez's Week 1 availability, but he still hasn't been cleared for team drills early in camp, and he has only handled individual work to this point. The 25-year-old is expected to share backfield touches with Bhayshul Tuten in Duvall in his first year with the team in 2026, but Tuten has taken the early lead for clear RB1 duties in head coach Liam Coen's offense. C-Rod's familiarity with Coen dating back to his days in college at the University of Kentucky shouldn't be discounted, but the former sixth-rounder by the Washington Commanders in 2023 is looking like the clear RB2 for Jacksonville right now. Second-year back LeQuint Allen Jr. figures to be the team's primary third-down option in the backfield, which could leave Rodriguez without much weekly volume. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 39 fantasy RB for 2026. Rodriguez has work to do to earn a bigger role alongside Tuten.
Jul 29, 2026 10:56 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. a Late-Round Sleeper to Target at Current Redraft ADP
After spending the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Washington Commanders, running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is entering his first year with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2026. Across 13 games (seven starts) with Washington last season, Rodriguez Jr. recorded 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 112 carries. The 25-year-old's fantasy upside is limited by his inability to impact the game as a receiver, as he's logged just six total catches across 35 career NFL games. Fellow Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten has more of a three-down profile, which could lead to Rodriguez being limited to RB2 duties in Jacksonville. However, Rodriguez Jr. has averaged an efficient 4.6 yards per carry for his career, and his physical running style could make him the Jaguars' preferred option in short-yardage and goal-line situations. As the RB53 by current redraft ADP, Rodriguez Jr. is worth targeting as a late-round flier.
Jul 22, 2026 11:57 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Could Carve Out an Important Role in Jaguars Backfield
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen loved running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. when the pair were together at the University of Kentucky, so The Athletic's Jeff Howe says not to be surprised if the "power ball-carrier carves out an important role" in his first year with the team in 2026. The former sixth-rounder in 2023 had 920 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons with the Washington Commanders. It was nothing to write home about, but Howe thinks we should be prepared for C-Rod "to be an important piece of the offense in 2026." Last year's RB1 in Jacksonville, Travis Etienne Jr., left in free agency, so Rodriguez and Bhayshul Tuten figure to compete for the majority of backfield touches in Duvall this year. Second-year back LeQuint Allen Jr. figures to see most of the pass-catching work in an increased Year 2 role, but Rodriguez could be used often on early downs and in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Tuten is still the better home run hitter/upside back for fantasy managers, but don't be surprised if Rodriguez is in play as an RB3/flex in the right matchups in his first year in Jacksonville. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 42 RB for 2026.
Jul 6, 2026 5:07 PM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. a Late-Round Value in 2026 Drafts
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. did not participate in minicamp practices while dealing with a foot injury, but when training camps roll around at the end of the month, he is expected to be a full participant, and in a padded setting, his physicality could help him stand out in a reworked running backs room. The Jaguars are looking to replace Travis Etienne Jr.'s 296 touches from a season ago, and that responsibility will fall to Rodriguez and 2025 fourth-rounder Bhayshul Tuten, with second-year back LeQuint Allen Jr. expected to be mixed in on passing downs. While Rodriguez's absence has allowed Tuten to stand out and separate by ADP, it should come as no surprise if they enter the season in something close to a 50/50 split. Rodriguez was one of the league's most efficient backs after contact in 2025, and after signing a two-year deal in free agency, his ability to add yardage beyond what is blocked could make him an important part of the Jaguars' short-yardage and goal line packages, claiming some of the team's most valuable touches. At RotoBaller's RB42, he's a late-round pick with the potential to provide usable weekly floors, splitting time in what projects to be a high-powered offense, but with a double-digit touchdown ceiling, he could prove to be one of the best values in 2026 drafts.
Jul 1, 2026 5:25 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. has Foot Procedure, Expected to be Full-Go for Camp
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (foot) had a procedure on his left foot following an injury earlier in the offseason program, but he's expected to be ready for the start of training camp in late July, a team source told Ryan O'Halloran of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union. Rodriguez, who signed a two-year deal with the team on March 11, has not taken part in any of the team's OTAs and will miss mandatory minicamp, which runs from June 9-11 this week. The 25-year-old is expected to be a full-go for the start of camp. When he rejoins the team, he'll be competing with Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. for a role in Jacksonville's new-look backfield without Travis Etienne Jr. C-Rod played one season at Kentucky when head coach Liam Coen was the Wildcats' offensive coordinator, but will that be enough to give him an advantage for early-down work over Tuten? The former sixth-rounder of the Commanders in 2023 has averaged 4.6 yards per carry as a rusher in his three years in the NFL, and he recorded a career-high 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 13 games (seven starts) in D.C. in 2025. Until we get a better read on the Jags' distribution of RB touches in the summer, Tuten is the better and more explosive RB2 upside selection in upcoming fantasy football drafts.
Jun 8, 2026 4:14 PM EST
Is Chris Rodriguez Jr. Falling Behind in Jaguars Running Back Battle?
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has yet to take part in any of the team's organized team activities as he deals with an undisclosed injury, and in his absence, second-year runner Bhayshul Tuten has reportedly been picking up steam. With the team yet to don pads, it's important not to read too much into any running back updates at this point in the calendar, but Rodriguez's availability warrants monitoring as the Jaguars' mandatory minicamp practices begin on Tuesday. Rodriguez has familiarity with Liam Coen's offense from their one year together at Kentucky, but he will eventually need to get back onto the field to maintain the sleeper status he carries into 2026. With the Commanders in 2025, he led the team in red zone and goal line carries, and if he can carve out a similar role in what projects to be a higher-scoring Jacksonville offense, Rodriguez could have weekly fantasy viability and provide lasting value at his current dynasty cost of RotoBaller's RB48.
Jun 8, 2026 6:00 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Sitting Out of OTAs
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (undisclosed) has not been taking part in OTAs due to an undisclosed reason, according to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated. The Jags' backfield has plenty of uncertainty heading into the 2026 season after Travis Etienne Jr. joined the New Orleans Saints in free agency, and Rodriguez's absence during voluntary offseason workouts adds to the unknown. In addition to C-Rod, the Jags have Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. as their top-three RBs for the upcoming campaign. We should have a better idea of how the RB touches might shake out in Jacksonville this year once the 25-year-old Rodriguez rejoins the team, hopefully for mandatory minicamp this month. Most likely, Rodriguez and Tuten will share the early-down work for head coach Liam Coen's offense, with Allen primarily working on passing downs. In his first three NFL seasons with the Washington Commanders after being a sixth-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Kentucky, Rodriguez averaged 4.6 yards per carry and totaled 920 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 198 carries over 35 games (seven starts). Tuten is the more explosive, higher-upside fantasy target in 2026 with clear RB2 upside, but C-Rod could also carve out a role for fantasy managers as an RB3/flex play.
Jun 5, 2026 9:12 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. to Lead the Jaguars in Carries?
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated has Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. listed atop the team's RB depth chart ahead of training camp. His gut feeling says that Rodriguez will lead the team in carries, but then writes that he doesn't know if there will be "enough of a difference between his workload" and Bhayshul Tuten's. LeQuint Allen Jr. projects as the RB3 as the top passing-down back, while DeeJay Dallas and undrafted rookie J'Mari Taylor will battle for the RB4 spot. Travis Etienne Jr. is now in New Orleans, which was paving the way for Tuten to be an easy breakout candidate in fantasy football in 2026, until the Jags signed C-Rod. The 25-year-old got a two-year, $10 million deal from Jacksonville, and he has familiarity with head coach Liam Coen from their time at Kentucky. Tuten surely has plenty of explosive potential, but the team also likes Rodriguez's abilities as a tough inside runner. Rodriguez averaged 4.6 yards per carry in his three seasons with the Commanders, and he added seven total touchdowns in 13 games in 2025. Right now, both Rodriguez and Tuten are shaping up to be WR3/flex options every week in fantasy if their workload is split mostly down the middle.
Apr 30, 2026 11:04 AM EST
Does Chris Rodriguez Jr. Fill a Need for Jacksonville?
The Jacksonville Jaguars went out and signed running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to a two-year, $10 million deal this offseason. He replaces Travis Etienne Jr. in the Jags' backfield, but that doesn't mean that we should pencil Rodriguez in to acquire all of Etienne's vacated carries (260) and targets (52). Rather, Rodriguez will compete with Bhayshul Tuten for the lead-back role during training camp, and third-string running back LeQuint Allen should also carve out significant volume as a passing-down specialist. Therefore, Rodriguez's ceiling isn't RB10, where Etienne ranked in 2025, but rather a mid-range RB2. The same can be said for Tuten. The good news is that Rodriguez presumably fills a hole the Jaguars' front office believed they had. Otherwise, they wouldn't have actively gone out and signed him to a multi-year deal. He's not a lock to finish 2026 as a top-36 fantasy running back, but there's RB3/flex value here if the backfield ends up split, and he has RB2 upside if he wins the lead-back role.
Apr 11, 2026 8:48 PM EST
No Clear Frontrunner Between Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten?
Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com writes that "it'll be a while" before the Jacksonville Jaguars' backfield dynamic gains any clarity. Jacksonville lost Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency and replaced him with Chris Rodriguez Jr., who will compete for the lead-back role with Bhayshul Tuten. Although it might seem like Tuten has an early leg up on the competition because of his familiarity with the Jaguars' offense, we must also acknowledge that Jacksonville deliberately went out and paid Rodriguez $10 million, so they want to get him involved. He also has a connection to head coach Liam Coen, who was his offensive coordinator at Kentucky in 2021. The Jaguars are no strangers to complicated backfields. They entered last season with no clear frontrunner between Etienne, Tuten, and Tank Bigsby. The good news is that there are now only two names in the mix, instead of three. Still, it sounds like it will be a while before we gain any clarity in this backfield. Both Rodriguez and Tuten should be viewed as low-end RB3/flex options, and whichever player wins the starting role will jump to the low-end RB2 tier given how strong Jacksonville's offense looked last year.
Mar 22, 2026 10:39 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. the Early Leader to be No. 1 Back in Jacksonville?
With running back Travis Etienne Jr. no longer in town, the Jacksonville Jaguars could be eyeing a timeshare in their backfield in 2026 with Bhayshul Tuten and newcomer Chris Rodriguez Jr. ESPN's Michael DiRocco writes that "it'll be a while before it's determined what the workload share between Tuten and Rodriguez will be." Behind Tuten and Rodriguez is second-year back LeQuint Allen Jr., seven-year veteran DeeJay Dallas, and Ja'Quinden Jackson, an undrafted rookie free agent in 2025 who spent all of last year on the practice squad. Tuten, a fourth-rounder last year, ran for 305 yards and five touchdowns while catching 10 passes for 79 yards and two scores as a rookie. Rodriguez had 4.8 yards per carry and ran for 500 yards and six rushing touchdowns in 2025 with Washington. He had 920 yards and 10 TDs in mostly a reserve role in his three years in D.C., which makes him the Jags' most experienced back. He also has experience in head coach Liam Coen's offense after working with him in 2021 at Kentucky. DiRocco writes that could make Rodriguez "an early leader to be the Jags' No. 1 back" going into the summer.
Mar 22, 2026 8:55 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Emerging as a High-End Dynasty Stash
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s new landing spot should benefit him long-term, and it also bodes well for his fantasy football managers. Rodriguez, a former Washington Commander, hit free agency this offseason and ultimately signed with the Jaguars. It was a very intriguing offseason move, as Jacksonville had recently lost Travis Etienne Jr. and was looking for someone to share the backfield with Bhayshul Tuten. While Tuten's one year of experience in the Jags' backfield gives him an early advantage on the lead-back role, we fully anticipate that Rodriguez will also be heavily involved. Rodriguez should play at least one-third of the snaps, and we'd have to imagine that Tuten still has somewhat of a short leash given his youth and lack of a track record. In other words, there's a path for Rodriguez to land the lead-back role if Tuten struggles or gets injured. Plus, Rodriguez already has a connection to head coach Liam Coen. At Kentucky in 2021, when Rodriguez was running for Kentucky and Coen was Kentucky's offensive coordinator, the former amassed 1,440 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns. All in all, Rodriguez is a very appealing "buy" in dynasty leagues this offseason.
Mar 17, 2026 6:07 AM EST
Jaguars Signing Chris Rodriguez Jr. on Wednesday
The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing former Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to an undisclosed two-year deal on Wednesday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Rodriguez will head to the AFC South after three years in Washington. The 25-year-old former sixth-round pick by the Commanders in 2023 out of Kentucky had his best year in 2025, carrying the ball 112 times for 500 yards and six touchdowns, which were all career-highs. He also caught three passes for 30 yards in 13 games played (seven starts) in D.C. In his three years with Washington, C-Rod had 10 rushing touchdowns while averaging a healthy 4.6 yards per tote. Jacksonville lost Travis Etienne Jr. to the New Orleans Saints in free agency and will now go into the 2026 campaign with Rodriguez, Bhayshul Tuten, and LeQuint Allen Jr. as their backfield options, barring another RB addition in the upcoming draft. Tuten figures to be the Jags' RB1, but Rodriguez could easily have flex appeal in a complementary role in a rising offense.
Mar 11, 2026 1:39 PM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Facing Reduced Role in Washington?
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been a productive player across 12 games this season, recording 435 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 96 carries. However, the 25-year-old has been in-and-out of his team's lineup in recent weeks, missing Week 15 with a groin injury and Week 17 with an illness. In his absence, Rodriguez Jr. may have had his role in the Washington backfield usurped by rookie back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Over the last three weeks, Croskey-Merritt has racked up 224 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries. Rodriguez Jr. is expected to return for Washington's Week 18 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he'll likely still see some touches. However, the Commanders may opt to split touches between Rodriguez Jr. and Croskey-Merritt evenly, or ride the hot hand with the rookie.
Jan 2, 2026 10:50 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. a Name to Check for on Week 18 Waiver Wires
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) was a late inactive for the team's Week 17 Christmas loss to the Cowboys, clearing the path for rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt to put up 105 yards and two scores on the ground. With roster crunches ratcheting up during the fantasy playoffs, there's a real chance that Rodriguez may be available on some waiver wires this week, making him a must-add in any league with a Week 18 championship game. While Croskey-Merritt has looked brilliant at times this year, Washington has repeatedly shown that, when healthy, they prefer Rodriguez to handle the majority of their groundwork. Rodriguez has cracked double-digit points in Half-PPR formats in three of his last six games played, and should slot in as a low-end RB2/flex in a plus matchup with the Eagles in Week 18.
Dec 29, 2025 3:00 PM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Sitting with Illness
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) will not be available for the team's divisional clash with the visiting Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 26-year-old was a late addition to Washington's injury report, as he came down with an illness early on Thursday. Despite initially garnering a questionable tag, he'll now miss his second game in three weeks. With Rodriguez inactive, backfield mates Jeremy McNichols and Jacory Croskey-Merritt will each see a significant uptick in work. Notably, in the last game sans Rodriguez, Croskey-Merritt barely eked out McNichols in snaps (32-30). However, he handily out-touched the latter 18-10. With that in mind, McNichols appeared to be the preferred passing-down back, so game script may determine who sees more work against the visiting Cowboys.
Dec 25, 2025 11:51 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
According to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic, Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) was added to the injury report and is listed as questionable for Thursday's contest against the Dallas Cowboys. The 25-year-old missed their Week 15 contest due to a groin injury but quickly reclaimed the starting role last weekend, taking 15 carries for 63 yards and a score during their loss to the Eagles. Over his last four games, Rodriguez has logged at least 10 carries in each game and averaged a solid 9.7 PPR points, operating as the preferred option in the backfield. Managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to kickoff in case Rodriguez faces a setback and is unable to play. If he is ruled out, managers should view seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt as a viable FLEX play in deeper formats, facing a Dallas defense that is allowing the seventh-most PPR points to opposing running backs.
Dec 25, 2025 9:45 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Plays Season-High in Snaps in Week 16
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. returned from injury in Week 16, taking 15 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown in the 29-18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Although there was concern that rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt would be more of a factor after his big Week 15 outing, Rodriguez returned to his usual workload. He played a season-high 56% of the snaps, while Croskey-Merritt played 22% and Jeremy McNichols played 24%. He faces the Dallas Cowboys, who may be without star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The Cowboys ranked as the worst run defense in the NFL before they acquired Williams at the deadline, and with him out last week, Omarion Hampton had 95 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts. While there are concerns about the Commanders' quarterback situation this week, look for them to run it a ton against this Cowboys defense, where Rodriguez could be a league-winner in Week 17.
Dec 24, 2025 10:34 AM EST
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Projects as Low-End Flex Option in Week 17
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been productive since taking on a bigger workload in Week 9. The third-year back has totalled 69 carries for 316 yards and four touchdowns while adding two catches (three targets) for 12 yards as a receiver. Rodriguez has been the head of a three-man committee in Washington's backfield, playing 43.1% of the snaps, with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt (31.7%) staying involved on early downs and Jeremy McNichols (33.3%) handling passing-down duties. Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt both found the end zone last week against the Eagles, but the Commanders' offense could be starting Josh Johnson at QB on Thursday against the Cowboys, with Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) injured and uncertain to play. That downgrades the status of all Washington players in fantasy. Facing a Dallas defense that is allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game since acquiring Quinnen Williams, Rodriguez profiles as a low-upside flex option in Week 17.
Dec 24, 2025 8:44 AM EST
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